Best constructed travel trailer
I know I'm opening a can of worms here, but, I'm in the market for a new trailer about 20 to 24 feet in length and am having trouble determining who makes the best constructed TT's. I want something ...
Forum Discussion
My two cents, in the order:
1: Fiberglass trailers (like Casitas.)
2: Airstreams.
3: Northwood/Nash/Arctic Fox.
4: Everyone else.
I agree with bumpy about the rubber roof, because eventually there will be a bit of the Dicor that will have a small crack, or not adhere perfectly, and there is a leak. One piece fiberglass or metal roofs don't have this issue, other than the seal around vents and skylights.
Of course, once places like Rhino Linings get more shops in where the whole roof can be sprayed with a flexible epoxy seal (not the stuff that is used to line pickup truck beds, but an elastomer), then pretty much roof issues are history for RVs in general.
Here in Austin, there is a shop, txvintagetrailer.com, run by Eric Stoltz, and he offers a completely new interior for an Airstream in 12 weeks and starting at $12,000. It won't be a -restored- unit (as in vintage appliances and furniture, but it will be a high quality -refurbished- unit (with modern stuff). You can get one restored... cost is a lot more.
Were I buying a TT, I'd go one of three routes. The first, I'd find a very good used Airstream and have it completely refurbished, inside and out by Eric. The second, I'd probably go with a Northwood, take it to a place like rvroof.com in Florida, and have the epoxy coating applied over the roof. Either way, there is a very good chance that leaks will be a thing of the past. The third, I'd contact a custom cargo/horse trailer maker and have the thing designed from scratch completely from aluminum with the roof being one piece metal that is bent around the edges so there are no seams up top.
1: Fiberglass trailers (like Casitas.)
2: Airstreams.
3: Northwood/Nash/Arctic Fox.
4: Everyone else.
I agree with bumpy about the rubber roof, because eventually there will be a bit of the Dicor that will have a small crack, or not adhere perfectly, and there is a leak. One piece fiberglass or metal roofs don't have this issue, other than the seal around vents and skylights.
Of course, once places like Rhino Linings get more shops in where the whole roof can be sprayed with a flexible epoxy seal (not the stuff that is used to line pickup truck beds, but an elastomer), then pretty much roof issues are history for RVs in general.
Here in Austin, there is a shop, txvintagetrailer.com, run by Eric Stoltz, and he offers a completely new interior for an Airstream in 12 weeks and starting at $12,000. It won't be a -restored- unit (as in vintage appliances and furniture, but it will be a high quality -refurbished- unit (with modern stuff). You can get one restored... cost is a lot more.
Were I buying a TT, I'd go one of three routes. The first, I'd find a very good used Airstream and have it completely refurbished, inside and out by Eric. The second, I'd probably go with a Northwood, take it to a place like rvroof.com in Florida, and have the epoxy coating applied over the roof. Either way, there is a very good chance that leaks will be a thing of the past. The third, I'd contact a custom cargo/horse trailer maker and have the thing designed from scratch completely from aluminum with the roof being one piece metal that is bent around the edges so there are no seams up top.
